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Broncos get laugh out of Ravens' view of Manning

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – After hearing the headlines coming out of Baltimore on Thursday, Broncos players couldn't help but chuckle. There was the story in USA TODAY Sports in which Ravens defensive linemen said

The statistics back that up. A hit on Manning drew only one roughing the passer flag this season, and Manning was sacked only 21 times – the second-lowest total in the league.

Broncos' defensive players, who tied for the league lead with 52 sacks, were penalized six times for roughing the passer, with three of those penalties by Von Miller. Defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson was fined twice this season for hits, including $15,000 for a hit he made on Carolina's Cam Newton after chasing the quarterback to the sideline. He said the Broncos aren't asking for special treatment, and the Ravens shouldn't either.

"I mean, shoot. If you lead league in every record in the book, of course they're going to protect you. They protect every quarterback in this league, too. They protect Flacco. They protect everybody else," Vickerson said. "Maybe they do a little more for Manning, but they protect everybody. You just have to play ball and get over that."

Then there was a story in the Baltimore Sun, proclaiming Denver's secret weapon is the mile-high altitude. The Ravens have not played a game in Denver since 2006, leading to plenty of talk this week about how the Ravens would handle the thin air at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

Beadles has played his entire football career at altitude -- in high school and college in Salt Lake City, and now three seasons with the Broncos. He said it can be a factor, especially for defensive linemen, but it's up to the offense to make that perceived advantage a reality.

"It can be, especially if we play fast. For sure," Beadles said.

The Broncos were 7-1 at home in 2012, but were a below average team (19-21) at home over the five previous seasons.